Apple Harvest is in at Nob Hill in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget

Apple Harvest is in for Nob Hill - Raley’s members in Salinas, California.

This week’s Raley’s members e-mail lists Modi apples selling $1.47 per pound today (8-25-2026).

Apples can be sliced up to go on cheese and charcuterie boards, made into apple sauce, and baked with duck or goose to soak up fat to make some delectable bites.  (You can do this with pears, too.)

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Pear Harvest is in at Nob Hill in Salinas, California

The Members price at Nob Hill - Raley’s for Bartlett, Bosc, and Red pears is $1.47 per pound beginning today (8-25-2026) at Nob Hill in Salinas, California.

You can slice pears for cheese and charcuterie boards, make them into a sauce like apple sauce, or poach them in red wine for a Monterey Wine Country treat.  There is a Spanish dish called oca con peras (goose with pears) that is a roadt goose with quartered pears that is a great fall and winter dish.

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks,Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Watermelon Harvest is in at Nob Hill by Ruth Paget

Nob Hill has three large crates of locally grown watermelons on sale for $5.99 each for Nob Hill - Raley’s Members advertised today (8-25-2026) in front of the Salinas, California store.

This deal also went out in the members weekly deals e-mail, so there are many more in stock.

Watermelon lovers know this is great food for making weekend summer meals special.

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Sunday Stroll at the Barnyard Shopping Centet in Carmel, California by Ruth Paget

Sunday Stroll at the Barnyard Shopping Center in Carmel, California by Ruth Paget

My husband Laurent and I have expanded our weekend stroll options to include the Barnyard in Carmel, California.

Early on the weekend, there is plenty of parking and two spots open for coffee and pastries.

We like the Lafayette Bakerry for latte and baguettes.  There is also a Bagel Bakery open for business in the nearby Crossroads Shopping Center.

The path through the Barnyard Shopping Center is beautifully landscaped.  Using the Google lens app, you can identify plants and flowers and then write about them in your journal or on your blog.  This is a great place for selfies with foliage photos.

On the way home, you can stop by BevMo for any alcoholic beverage needs for lunch.  On our last visit, we bought two bottles of Ket brand Cosmopolitan martinis.

Enjoy strolling at the Barnyard Shopping Center in Carmel, California!

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture games

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Ideas from UChicago’s Library-Community Day reposted by Ruth Paget

The University of Chicago Library-Community Day is a little far away from Salinas and Monterey, California, but there might be some ideas in the press release below for Californians like zine making and digital archiving workshops:

https://events.uchicago.edu/event/269154-uchicago-library-community-day-open-house-and

Reposted by Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization Games

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center

-creator of French travel and culture blogs

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs

-family genealogist

-developer of 9 music theory games

Log Cabin Breakfast in Northwoods Baraboo, Wisconsin by Ruth Paget

Log Cabin Breakfast in Northwoods Baraboo, Wisconsin by Ruth Paget 

My husband Laurent and I headed towards the Wisconsin Northwoods on I-94 North Direction Wisconsin Dells. We exited in the direction of Baraboo. 

Baraboo gets its name from the French trader and trapper named Jean-Baptiste Baribault (or Baribeau) who traded with Native Americans in the region in a trading post on what is now called the Baraboo River in the 18th century. 

Baraboo was officially adopted as the name of the Village of Adams that rose on the trading post site in 1852. 

Baraboo is now the county seat of Sauk County. (Sauk is the name of the local Native American tribe.) Baraboo is most famous as the winter home of the Ringling Brothers Circus. 

Circus World Museum now operates where the Ringling Brothers house animals, props, and performers for the winter. Laurent and I went to the Circus World Gift Shop where I bought a book about the history of Wisconsin agriculture. I did not feel like visiting the museum without our daughter Florence along. She will come on the next visit to see grandma. 

We went to the Log Cabin Restaurant for breakfast. This restaurant seems to have been around forever. The Log Cabin makes its own sausage, which is pudgy, porky, perfect. I ordered the 2x4 breakfast along with Laurent that came with: 

-2 over easy eggs 

-2 sausages 

-2 slices thick-cut bacon 

-2 pieces of French toast 

-a pot of freshly brewed coffee with cream 

Wow! That was a great breakfast in a restaurant that just smelled of nice coffee. We went back to Madison well fed. 

We had “light” dinners at Culver’s, the Wisconsin fast food chain, that featured butter cheeseburgers and chocolate egg custard shakes. 

The flights the next day from Madison, Wisconsin to Phoenix, Arizona and Phoenix, Arizona to Monterey, California were on-time and smooth. I was happy to be back at sea level in crisp cool air. 

We had a great time in Wisconsin and promised mom (grandma) to visit next year. 

Wisconsin Dairyland Vacation Days 7 and 8 Complete!! 

By Ruth Paget

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + 5 other Kindle books 

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games 

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games -creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center 

-creator of French travel and culture games 

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs 

-family genealogist 

-developer of 9 music theory games

Norwegian Noshing at Norske Nook in DeForest, Wisconsin by Ruth Paget

Norwegian Noshing at Norske Nook in DeForest, Wisconsin by Ruth Paget 

There is a large population in DeForest, Wisconsin which has Norwegian ancestry that can support two Lutheran churches and a Norske Nook Diner. (The other Norske Nook Diner is located in Osseo for this franchise-ready operation.) 

My husband Laurent brunched on Norwegian pancakes with lingonberries. Lingonberries are similar to cranberries and grow in the Northern US, Canada, and northern Europe. 

The Norwegian pancakes looked like thick crêpes folded over twice into fourths. Laurent said they were eggy good.

I ate a Wisconsin reuben sandwich with bread that was made with cranberries and brown rice from Minnesota or the lower reaches of the Mississippi River. The tart and savory bread tasted very nice with the savory corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing. I liked Norske Nook.

They have a souvenir section where we bought a calendar with scenes of Norway and art entitled Norway: Visions and Verse of Viking Land by Nancy Schmidt. I thought this calendar was great for designing imaginary lands for a fantasy book. 

I bought a book entitled The Last Word on Lutefisk: True Tales of Cod and Tradition by Gary Legwold. Lutefisk is eaten throughout Scandinavia. It is air-dried cod that is rehydrated and boiled or baked.  It is usually served with melted butter and is flaky when well cooked.

Lutefisk is the centerpiece of Norwegian Lutheran Lutefisk Suppers that can serve 600 to 1400 in about four seatings as fundraisers. My family has attended a lutefisk supper at the Vermont Lutheran Church where we all ate lutefisk and Swedish meatballs and gravy to participate in local community life. 

After our pretty delicious brunch at Norske Nook, Laurent and I returned home, did some reading, and got ready for one more day of touring before our return to California. 

Wisconsin Dairyland Vacation Day 6 Complete! 

By Ruth Paget 

-author Eating Soup with Chopsticks, Marrying France, and Europe’s Lessons written during overseas duty in Germany + other Kindle books 

-developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games + 8 Classical Western Civilization War Games 

-developer of food and beverage knowledge games 

-creator of online exhibits about San Miguel Arcangel Mission, French baguette making, and the Carmel Valley History Center 

-creator of French travel and culture games 

-writer of 1900+ Central Coast California lifestyle blogs 

-family genealogist 

-developer of 9 music theory games